According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), "An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent", (NACE, 2021).

The internship is an opportunity for employers to recruit, train and develop talented and engaged Concordia University students. In return students gain real world experience applying their studies to meaningful work assisting in their career exploration. Depending on the course of study, most ‘for credit internships’ require 120 hours of work, supervision and evaluation.

Get started

If you have an internship program developed please post them on Handshake, CUW’s online career exploration platform. Handshake allows employers to post opportunities and review job seekers’ profiles and resumes at no cost.

For more ways to connect with our students and market your organization visit our Employer and Community Engagement page here.

Tips for a successful internship program

  1. The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform.
  2. The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings.
  3. The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications.
  4. There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student’s academic coursework.  
  5. There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience. 
  6. There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor. 
  7. There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objectives/goals.

Paid or unpaid internships

Employers frequently ask if interns need to be paid. A majority of internships offered to our students are paid. Compensation varies from industry to industry and we strongly encourage you to remain competitive. Unpaid internships are recognized and approved if they are compliant with the Fair Labor Standards Act. Please refer to the Department of Labor’s Internships Under the Fair Labor Standards Act to determine what is best for your organization and the intern.

Milwaukee Area College Internship Consortium (MACIC)

Established in 2000, MACIC exists to foster collegiality and to support professionals, who work with internships in Wisconsin's public, private, and technical colleges and universities through educational forums and networking opportunities. MACIC is a resource for employers. To learn more about these please check out MACIC's Employer Resources page.

Questions?

Please contact Stacy Tolomeo, Assistant Director of Industry Relations at stacy.tolomeo@cuw.edu or (262) 243-2216 for more information about internships, talent pipeline and student experiences.